We are all asked to donate something at some point in our lives: time, money, energy, or canned goods, but how often are we reminded to donate a part of ourselves?
I’m currently reading Trust is Not Enough: Bringing Human Rights to Medicine by David J. Rothman and Sheila M. Rothman. I picked it up before returning to Malawi at a bookstore in Princeton. As a future medical practitioner of some sort, I find these topics interesting. I have also just finished Better by Atul Gawande and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, both excellent books and good commentary on medicine.
The Rothmans have 4 major themes, the first being “their uncompromising commitment to the integrity of the human body”. It gives significant background to international organ trafficking and plundering. Did you know that Singapore uses a point system based on different criteria such as age, severity of illness, and employment status to decide where you fall on the transplant waiting list? Or most Asian societies refuse to donate because they believe death is when the heart stops and not brain death? Or that Belgium has a “presumed consent” statute that assumes everyone is willing to donate unless they specifically register not to?
In the US alone, around 110,105 people are waiting a transplant. My question is this. Why is it that when Americans are asked for permission to take an organ from a deceased relative, 53% refused? Would you want to receive an organ if it meant a chance to continue living?
In the state of California, there is a simple form attached to your driver’s license. I keep mine with me at all times. I also try to donate blood whenever possible (although I have low blood pressure and pass out occasionally at the blood bank). I would gladly give my family, friends, or a perfect stranger a kidney if it meant they would have a chance to continue living a healthy life. I would hope that you would do the same for me or anyone else in need.
I have faith that by being a registered donor I will make a difference in someone’s life one day, whether I’m 25 or 75. Register. Donate blood. Do what you can to save a life.
Learn more at unos.org
Find out how to register in your state at organdonor.gov
1 comments:
I totally agree with all of this. And Henry was the recipient of a transplant (cornea) from a 17-year-old since someone was kind enough to realize the difference they could make.
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